Week 14 NFL Preview

NFL REGULAR SEASON ENTERS FINAL QUARTER

There are only four games remaining in the regular season to decide who advances to the playoffs for a shot at a trip to Super Bowl LI.    

As the NFL enters the final quarter of the regular season, there are 19 teams either in or within one game of a playoff spot.

Entering Week 14, only one team – the Dallas Cowboys (11-1) – has clinched a spot in the 2016 playoff field. The Cowboys, who have secured at least a playoff berth, can win the NFC East division title with a win at the New York Giants on Sunday night. The Cowboys can also clinch a first-round bye with a win and either a Detroit loss or a Seattle loss. And Dallas can lock up the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC with a win and losses by both Detroit and Seattle.

Two other divisions can be clinched in Week 14. The New England Patriots (10-2), who have won at least 10 games in 14 consecutive seasons, can secure the AFC East with a win and a Miami loss. The Patriots can also claim a first-round bye with a win and losses by both Miami and Pittsburgh. The Seattle Seahawks (8-3-1), who are seeking their fifth consecutive postseason berth, can lock up the NFC West division title with a win and an Arizona loss.

The Oakland Raiders (10-2) can clinch a playoff berth with a win over Kansas City on Thursday night and a loss by either Miami or Denver.

Week 14 begins on Thursday night (8:25 PM ET, NBC/NFLN/Twitter) with an important AFC West contest as the Kansas City Chiefs (9-3) host the first-place Raiders (10-2). The Chiefs have won seven of their past eight games while Oakland enters the contest on a six-game winning streak.

The week concludes with a pair of primetime contests with playoff implications. On Sunday night (8:30 PM ET, NBC), the Cowboys (11-1) visit the New York Giants (8-4). Dallas, which has won 11 consecutive games, has already secured a playoff berth and will clinch the division title with a victory. The Giants, who handed the Cowboys their only loss this season (20-19 in Week 1), are currently in position for the NFC’s first Wild Card spot.

On Monday night (8:30 PM ET, ESPN), the Patriots (10-2) host the Baltimore Ravens (7-5). New England can clinch the AFC East division title for the eighth consecutive season with a win and a Miami loss, which would be the longest streak of division titles in NFL history. Baltimore has won four of its past five games and enters Week 14 tied with Pittsburgh for first place in the AFC North.

Some of the key games in Week 14:

OAKLAND RAIDERS (10-2) at KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (9-3) (Thursday, NBC/NFLN/Twitter, 8:25 PM ET)                

• The Raiders, who can clinch a playoff berth with a win and either a Miami loss or a Denver loss, have won six games in a row, including last week’s 38-24 come-from-behind victory over Buffalo. Oakland trailed by 15 points in the second half before rallying to score the game’s final 29 points. Quarterback DEREK CARR has 11 touchdown passes and one interception in the fourth quarter and overtime this season. Defensive end KHALIL MACK is the only player in the NFL this season with at least 10 sacks (10) and an interception (one). ​

• The Chiefs have won seven of their past eight games, including last week’s 29-28 comeback win at Atlanta. Safety ERIC BERRY intercepted a two-point conversion attempt and returned it for the go-ahead score in the fourth quarter, the first game-winning defensive two-point conversion scored when his team was trailing. Berry also returned an interception 37 yards for a touchdown and is the first player in NFL history to return an interception for both a touchdown and a two-point conversion in the same game.
  

HOUSTON TEXANS (6-6) at INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (6-6) (Sunday, CBS, 1:00 PM ET)                

• The Texans are tied with Indianapolis and Tennessee for first place in the AFC South. Houston has won eight consecutive division games, including the past two meetings between the clubs. In Week 6, running back LAMAR MILLER rushed for 149 yards and a touchdown in the Texans’ 26-23 overtime victory over the Colts.
   
• The Colts, whose win on Monday night moved them into a first-place tie with Houston and Tennessee in the division, are 13-1 all-time at home against the Texans. Quarterback ANDREW LUCK has won nine consecutive starts at home against division opponents, including a 3-0 mark against Houston. Luck threw four touchdown passes, including three to tight end DWAYNE ALLEN, in last week’s 41-10 win at the New York Jets.
   

DENVER BRONCOS (8-4) at TENNESSEE TITANS (6-6) (Sunday, CBS, 1:00 PM ET)

• The Broncos currently hold one of the AFC’s two Wild Card berths with four games left to play. Last week, cornerback BRADLEY ROBY had a 51-yard interception-return touchdown – his second INT-TD this season – in Denver’s 20-10 win at Jacksonville. Linebacker VON MILLER leads the NFL with 12.5 sacks.

• The Titans, who had a bye in Week 13, are tied with Houston and Indianapolis for first place in the AFC South. Quarterback MARCUS MARIOTA, who was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Month in November, has thrown multiple touchdown passes in eight consecutive games, totaling 21 touchdowns, three interceptions and a 117.7 passer rating during that span. 

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (8-3-1) at GREEN BAY PACKERS (6-6) (Sunday, FOX, 4:25 PM ET)                

• The Seahawks can clinch the NFC West with a win and an Arizona loss. Seattle defeated Carolina 40-7 last week and rushed for 240 yards, led by running back THOMAS RAWLS (106 yards, two touchdowns) and wide receiver TYLER LOCKETT (75-yard touchdown run). The Seahawks lead the NFL allowing 16.2 points per game.
  
• The Packers defeated Houston 21-13 last week at Lambeau Field. Quarterback AARON RODGERS, who threw two touchdown passes in the victory, has won 14 consecutive December home games, the second-longest streak in NFL history. During that span, Rodgers has thrown 34 touchdowns with four interceptions for a 116.2 passer rating.
  

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (5-7) at TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (7-5) (Sunday, FOX, 4:25 PM ET)                

• The Saints play three of their final four games against division opponents, including two meetings with the Buccaneers. Quarterback DREW BREES leads the NFL in passing yards (3,913), touchdown passes (30), completions (357), attempts (500) and completion percentage (71.4).  

• The Buccaneers have won four consecutive games and are tied with Atlanta for first place in the NFC South. Tampa Bay knocked off San Diego 28-21 last week as quarterback JAMEIS WINSTON threw a touchdown pass, running back DOUG MARTIN rushed for a TD and linebacker LAVONTE DAVID returned an interception for a score.  

DALLAS COWBOYS (11-1) at NEW YORK GIANTS (8-4) (Sunday, NBC, 8:30 PM ET)                

• The Cowboys have won 11 consecutive games and are the only team in the NFL to clinch a playoff berth. Dallas can win the NFC East with a win at New York and, with help from other scenarios, could secure a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs this weekend. Quarterback DAK PRESCOTT is the first rookie in NFL history to throw at least one touchdown pass without an interception in five consecutive games. Rookie running back EZEKIEL ELLIOTT leads the NFL with 1,285 rushing yards and ranks second in the league with 12 rushing TDs.

• The Giants have won six of their past seven games and currently hold one of the NFC’s two Wild Card berths. New York is the only team to defeat the Cowboys this season, winning at Dallas (20-19) in Week 1. Safety LANDON COLLINS, who leads the team with 94 tackles, is the only player in the NFL with at least three sacks (three) and three interceptions (five).

BALTIMORE RAVENS (7-5) at NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (10-2) (Monday, ESPN, 8:30 PM ET)                

• The Ravens enter Week 14 tied with Pittsburgh for first place in the AFC North. Baltimore has won two games in a row and four of their past five contests. Last week, quarterback JOE FLACCO passed for 381 yards and four touchdowns in the Ravens’ 38-6 win over Miami.  

• The Patriots have reached 10 wins for the 14th consecutive season, the second-longest streak in NFL history. Last week, New England defeated Los Angeles 26-10 as quarterback TOM BRADY won his 201st career start (including the postseason), the most victories by a starting QB in NFL history. With a victory and a Miami loss, the Patriots will become the first team in NFL history to win eight consecutive division titles.

2016 NFL STANDINGS

American Football Conference
East Division
Team	W	L	T	Pct	PF	PA	Home	Away	Conf	Div	Streak
New England Patriots	10	2	0	.833	319	207	4-2-0	6-0-0	7-1-0	3-1-0	3W
Miami Dolphins	7	5	0	.583	255	278	5-1-0	2-4-0	5-4-0	2-1-0	1L
Buffalo Bills	6	6	0	.500	305	274	3-2-0	3-4-0	3-5-0	1-3-0	1L
New York Jets	3	9	0	.250	206	307	1-5-0	2-4-0	3-6-0	1-2-0	4L
North Division
Team	W	L	T	Pct	PF	PA	Home	Away	Conf	Div	Streak
Baltimore Ravens	7	5	0	.583	256	207	5-2-0	2-3-0	7-2-0	4-0-0	2W
Pittsburgh Steelers	7	5	0	.583	290	236	4-2-0	3-3-0	5-3-0	2-1-0	3W
Cincinnati Bengals	4	7	1	.375	245	259	3-2-1	1-5-0	3-5-0	1-2-0	1W
Cleveland Browns	0	12	0	.000	197	352	0-6-0	0-6-0	0-8-0	0-4-0	12L
South Division
Team	W	L	T	Pct	PF	PA	Home	Away	Conf	Div	Streak
Houston Texans	6	6	0	.500	207	257	5-1-0	1-5-0	4-4-0	3-0-0	3L
Indianapolis Colts	6	6	0	.500	311	311	3-3-0	3-3-0	4-5-0	2-2-0	1W
Tennessee Titans	6	6	0	.500	308	296	3-3-0	3-3-0	3-5-0	1-3-0	1W
Jacksonville Jaguars	2	10	0	.167	224	313	1-5-0	1-5-0	1-8-0	1-2-0	7L
West Division
Team	W	L	T	Pct	PF	PA	Home	Away	Conf	Div	Streak
Oakland Raiders	10	2	0	.833	345	299	5-2-0	5-0-0	7-1-0	2-1-0	6W
Kansas City Chiefs	9	3	0	.750	281	242	4-1-0	5-2-0	6-2-0	3-0-0	2W
Denver Broncos	8	4	0	.667	286	229	4-2-0	4-2-0	5-3-0	1-3-0	1W
San Diego Chargers	5	7	0	.417	334	319	3-3-0	2-4-0	4-5-0	1-3-0	1L

National Football Conference
East Division
Team	W	L	T	Pct	PF	PA	Home	Away	Conf	Div	Streak
x-Dallas Cowboys	11	1	0	.917	333	228	5-1-0	6-0-0	7-1-0	3-1-0	11W
New York Giants	8	4	0	.667	245	237	5-1-0	3-3-0	5-3-0	2-1-0	1L
Washington Redskins	6	5	1	.542	303	295	4-2-0	2-3-1	4-4-0	2-2-0	2L
Philadelphia Eagles	5	7	0	.417	268	245	4-1-0	1-6-0	3-6-0	0-3-0	3L
North Division
Team	W	L	T	Pct	PF	PA	Home	Away	Conf	Div	Streak
Detroit Lions	8	4	0	.667	275	251	5-1-0	3-3-0	6-2-0	2-2-0	4W
Minnesota Vikings	6	6	0	.500	233	209	4-2-0	2-4-0	4-6-0	1-3-0	2L
Green Bay Packers	6	6	0	.500	295	302	4-2-0	2-4-0	4-4-0	2-1-0	2W
Chicago Bears	3	9	0	.250	204	270	3-3-0	0-6-0	3-5-0	2-1-0	1W
South Division
Team	W	L	T	Pct	PF	PA	Home	Away	Conf	Div	Streak
Atlanta Falcons	7	5	0	.583	386	331	3-3-0	4-2-0	5-3-0	3-1-0	1L
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	7	5	0	.583	277	285	2-4-0	5-1-0	5-3-0	2-1-0	4W
New Orleans Saints	5	7	0	.417	347	335	3-4-0	2-3-0	4-4-0	1-2-0	1L
Carolina Panthers	4	8	0	.333	283	321	3-3-0	1-5-0	4-5-0	1-3-0	2L
West Division
Team	W	L	T	Pct	PF	PA	Home	Away	Conf	Div	Streak
Seattle Seahawks	8	3	1	.708	264	194	6-0-0	2-3-1	4-3-1	1-1-1	1W
Arizona Cardinals	5	6	1	.458	276	251	4-2-1	1-4-0	4-4-1	2-1-1	1W
Los Angeles Rams	4	8	0	.333	180	262	1-4-0	3-4-0	3-5-0	2-1-0	3L
San Francisco 49ers	1	11	0	.083	234	370	1-5-0	0-6-0	1-8-0	1-3-0	11L

NFL WEEK 14 SCHEDULE

THURSDAY, SUNDAY & MONDAY, DECEMBER 8, 11-12

(All times local)

Thursday, December 8	Sunday, December 11 (cont’d)
Oakland at Kansas City, 7:25 PM (NBC/NFLN/Twitter)	Washington at Philadelphia, 1:00 PM
	New Orleans at Tampa Bay, 1:00 PM
Sunday, December 11	Denver at Tennessee, 12:00 PM
Pittsburgh at Buffalo, 1:00 PM	New York Jets at San Francisco 49ers, 1:05 PM
San Diego at Carolina, 1:00 PM	Seattle at Green Bay, 3:25 PM
Cincinnati at Cleveland, 1:00 PM Chicago at Detroit, 1:00 PM	Atlanta at Los Angeles, 1:25 PM Dallas at New York Giants, 8:30 PM (NBC)
Houston at Indianapolis, 1:00 PM Minnesota at Jacksonville, 1:00 PM Arizona at Miami, 1:00 PM	Monday, December 12 Baltimore at New England, 8:30 PM (ESPN)